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You probably failed to enter the non-deductible contributions.
The "Backdoor Roth" does not exist in tax law. It is a procedure used by some to take advantage of a quirk in tax law that allows making a non-deductible contribution to a Traditional IRA when one cannot contribute to a Roth IRA, and the immediately converting the Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, thereby getting the money into the Roth via "backdoor" tax free.
That "procedure" can only work of all these requirements are met:
1) No Traditional IRA account whatsoever can exist (that includes any SEP or SIMPLE IRA accounts) at the start. If existing IRA's contain any before-tax money or earnings then it will be partly taxable.
2) The Tradition IRA contributions must be reported on a 8606 form as non-deductible.
3) The conversion to a ROTH must be shortly after the contribution to avoid taxable gains.
4) The entire Traditional IRA value must be zero that the end of the year of conversion.
Otherwise the conversion will be partly taxable.
First you must enter your Traditional IRA contributions (if there were 2020 contributions).
IRA contribution
Federal Taxes,
Deductions & Credits,
I’ll choose what I work on (if that screen comes up),,
Retirement & Investments,
Traditional & Roth IRA contribution.
Be SURE to answer the follow up that the are choosing to make this contribution NON-DEDUCTIBLE - if that screen comes up. (DO NOT say that you moved (recharacterized) the money to a Roth) – this is a conversion, not a recharactorazition.
Then enter the 1099-R that shows the distribution.
Federal Taxes,
Wages & Income
I’ll choose what I work on (if that screen comes up),,
Retirement Plans & Social Security,
IRA, 401(k), Pension Plan Withdrawals (1099-R).
Answer the follow-up questions answer the question that you moved the money to another retirement. The screen will open up with choices of where it was moved. Choose you converted it to Roth IRA.
When asked if you have made any non-deductible contributions say " "yes" if you did then enter the non-deductible contributions made for tax years before 2020. (Usually zero unless you also made a 2019 or earlier non-deductible contribution. If you do have prior year basis then enter the last filed 8606 line 14 value.).
Enter the 2020 year end value of your Traditional IRA a "0" (zero) - if it is in fact zero - this tax free Roth conversion will not work if it is not zero.
[If you had any other Traditional IRA at the end of 2020, then the nondeductible "basis" must be pro-rated over the current distribution and the total IRA value and only a portion of the Roth conversion will be non taxable and part will be taxable, with the remaining non-deductible basis carrying forward for future distributions. You can never only withdrew the nondeductible basis as long as the IRA exists and has a value more than zero.]
The non-deductible amount of your contribution will be subtracted from the taxable amount of the conversion on then 8606 form and enter on line 4a of them 1040 form and a zero taxable amount on line 4b if you did it right.
Also see this TurboTax FAQ:
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4350747-how-do-i-enter-a-backdoor-roth-ira-conversion
Thanks for the reply. What do I do if I made a 2019 contribution in 2020? Since I didn’t make the contribution before I filed my 2019 return I don’t have an 8606 in my 2019 return. Do I list the basis as $6000 under the question for the last filed 8606 even though I didn’t file one?
Thanks.
Yes, you will list the basis as $6,000 when TurboTax asks about "Any nondeductible Contributions to your IRA?" in 2019 and prior years. If you did not file a 8606 with your 2019 return then you will have to amend the return to include it. Please see How do I amend a 2019 return in TurboTax?
[Edited 2/16/2021 | 7:25am PST]
@garrettmenaker wrote:
Thanks for the reply. What do I do if I made a 2019 contribution in 2020? Since I didn’t make the contribution before I filed my 2019 return I don’t have an 8606 in my 2019 return. Do I list the basis as $6000 under the question for the last filed 8606 even though I didn’t file one?
You are not allowed to apply the 2019 basis unless it was reported on a 2019 8606 form line 1,3 & 14. You need to amend 2019 and enter the 2019 contribution in the IRA contribution interview to generate the 8606 and then mail it to the IRS. The 8606 must be filed for the year the contribution was *for* not contributed.
Without the 2019 8606, the IRS can disallow the 2020 conversion.
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